Horse Riders back their own Road Safety
Press Release for Pass Wide & Slow NZ Awareness Rides 2025
Horse riders and carriage drivers across Aotearoa New Zealand will ride in solidarity with equestrians across the World this month to promote a life saving road safety message.
On 13 and 14 September, New Zealanders along with riders in the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Western Australia and America will collectively raise awareness about how to safely approach and pass a horse on the road.
Photography Wendy BPhotography
“We are proud of the support for this mahi, both in communities where rides will go out, and from organisations that understand the benefit of the positive driver behaviour change we are leading.
Horse riders are vulnerable road users, just like cyclists and pedestrians, and yet until the creation of the permanent road safety platform – Pass Wide and Slow New Zealand – there has been little to no road safety education for this road user group,”
Kotahitanga – unity is a Māori philosophy that underpins our approach to improving road safety outcomes for equestrians, and our relationship with NZ Police is significant in achieving this.
“We continue to encourage all road users about the shared responsibility to keep everyone safe. Pass Wide and Slow New Zealand’s efforts to educate and raise awareness of safe and respectful behaviours when travelling past horses and riders is one Police continues to support.”
Police have an ongoing commitment to reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads and ensuring every road user, including equestrians, remain safe on roads right throughout the country. NZ Police
PWASNZ rides will take place in 30 communities across the Motū, with a focus on sharing the message to pass wide and slow - kia tūpato kia āta haere, hi- vis and ‘being seen’.
“As the brand and marketing arm of PWASNZ, we appreciate the collaborative relationships we have established to help share this important road safety message. Fonterra’s recent investment in hi-vis vests, a two page spread in the Foundation Rider Magazine, or Motivation Design where our resources can be purchased. With no budget but a resolve to not see further loss of life or injury, we are two wāhine working very hard and covering a lot of ground”
PWASNZ Ambassadors Aurora and Moose proud to celebrate the PWASNZ / Fonterra Hi Vis Vests - these vests have been sent across Aotearoa to help keep riders seen on our roads.
List of official Pass Wide & Slow Awareness Rides 2025
Amberley - Cambridge - Cust - Dannevirke - Fairlie - Greymouth - Hastings - Hokianga- Hokitika - Kaitaia- Lincoln - Mākara Pony Club - Manawaru - Māpua - Martinborough - New Plymouth - Ōhāriu Valley - Onslow Pony Club - Ōpōtiki - Oxford - Raglan- Tasman - Tauranga- Te Kaha - Uawa - Waimakariri - Wellington City - Westport
Background to Pass Wide & Slow New Zealand
In June, 2025 PWASNZ presented new evidence to Parliament’s Select Committee on the number of people killed whilst riding or driving a horse drawn vehicle on the road. Health NZ figures show between 2000 – 2021 41 people between 10-79 years have died. Worksafe NZ has a further three fatalities on its books for 2022. Road Transport data shows 8 equestrian fatalities between 1980 - 2024.
PWASNZ has asked that data gathering methods be reviewed. The presentation was an extension of work to support the case Julia McLean researched and outlined in a submission to Politicians for horse riders to be formally recognised as Vulnerable Road Users in Transport Legislation. Updates will be released at passwideandslow.co.nz and PWASNZ Facebook.
2025 PWASNZ Awareness Rider leading by example in hi-vis gear.
Approved imagery for use in your publication:. pwasnz or comms
Ngā mihi nui
Pass Wide & Slow NZ
Julia McLean 027 276 5791 and Eve Leniston-Howell 021 233 8838
Email: passwideandslownz@gmail.com